Palestinians to seek 440 million dollars for houses demolished by Israel

ALGIERS - The Palestinian Authority will ask next week's Arab summit to approve 440 million dollars to build housing for Palestinians whose homes were demolished by Israel during the four-year intifada, the Palestinian economy minister said here Friday.
Mazen Sunukrot said a project to build two large complexes -- one in the Gaza Strip and the other in the West Bank -- had already been approved by the Arab League's economic and social council. The plan will be submitted to a meeting of foreign ministers this weekend.
The two-day summit in Algiers is slated to begin on Tuesday.
The Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem estimates that 28,000 Palestinians have been left homeless as a result of the practice.
The policy has sparked repeated condemnations by human rights groups which claim it amounts to collective punishment and a breach of international law.
Last month, Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz ordered a halt to demolitions.

03/18/2005 17:22 GMT